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The Silence Of The Lambs: Cannibal Monster Or Heroic Avenger?

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The Silence of the Lambs: Cannibal Monster or Heroic Avenger? The Silence of the Lambs is a fascinating horror novel which depicts Dr. Hannibal Lecter as a top criminal mind whom develops a professional and personal relationship with Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) trainee Clarice Starling. Starling is assigned to interview Dr. Lecter in an attempt to gain insight to the mind of a serial killer on the loose known as “Buffalo Bill” and ultimately his capture. I will attempt to explore why we, the reader or viewer, gravitate to embracing and even respect Dr. Lecter while emotions of dislike and hate surface in the character of Buffalo Bill. Prior to Starlings interview she is advised to be cautious while interacting with the Doctor. Lecter is a convicted criminal of horrific murders involving cannibalism of his patients. As Starling initiates her interview with Dr. Lecter he quickly builds a rapport with the fragile young female trainee by establishing a common …show more content…

Lecter is a man that prays upon those he feels are unworthy of life and those that have caused heartache to others while Buffalo Bill targets those that are defenseless. At a young age we are brought up to help those in need and stand up against those bring harm or unpleasantness to us and those around us. Are we programed from childhood to judge harshly of those that do not respect others, those of a class that is not of our own? Do we look the other way on those that are educated, hold positions of power, interpersonal skills, humor and overall charisma because we feel that they are more human than those who do not display these traits? When did wrong stop being wrong regardless of the individual performing the act? Both characters killed others to fulfill a desire inside of them, even though the desires are drastically different in these two men; they both kill to fill that desire. Hannibal Lecter is not a Heroic Avenger as we may want to believe, he is no different from Buffalo

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